Curtain holding assembly



March 1, 1966 cs. E. DAVIS 3,237,632

CURTAIN HOLDING ASSEMBLY Filed March :51, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig./

Fig.2

Guy E. Davis INVENTOR.

March 1, 1966 DAVls 3,237,682

CURTAIN HOLDING ASSEMBLY Filed March 31, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Guy E Davis INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,237,682 CURTAIN HOLDING ASSEMBLY Guy E. Davis, P.O. Box 421, Calimesa, Calif. Filed Mar. 31, 1964, Ser. No. 356,246 6 Claims. (Cl. 160-269) This invention relates to the mounting of sunshades or curtains and more particularly to the mounting of a flexible curtain externally of a building or sheltering structure so as to prevent damage thereto from excessive fluttering.

The structure of the present invention is particularly useful in connection with the mounting of a curtain roll in suspended relation below a roof assembly disposed above a patio area for example located externally of a building or house trailer. It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide structure whereby the life of such curtains may be prolonged by releasably clamping the curtain in its extended condition to the vertical supporting posts between which the curtain extends.

Other objects of the present invention include the provision of economically manufactured and easily installed components of a curtain holding assembly secured to the vertical supporting posts of a roof assembly between which a curtain roll is mounted. I

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View illustrating one typical installation for the structure of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevational view of a curtain mounting assembly made in accordance with the present inven-.

tion as shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 33 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 4-4 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a partial transfer sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 55 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a transverse partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 6-6 in FIGURE 3. 1

FIGURE 7 is a transverse partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 7--7 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged partial side elevational view of the lower portion of FIGURE 4 with parts broken away and shown in section.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged partial side elevational view of the handle portion of the structure shown in FIG- URE 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and initially to FIGURES l and 2, it will be noted that the structure of the present invention is associated with a roof frame assembly 10 which extends from the side of a sheltering structure 12 over a supporting surface 14, the roof assembly 10 being supported by a plunality of vertical posts including posts 16, 18 and 20 between which a flexible curtain 22 extends. The curtain is retracted from or rolled up into a curtain roll assembly 24 supported rearwardly of the vertical posts 16 and 20.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 5, it will be observed that the curtain roll 24 is supported by a curtain pole or shaft 26, the shaft 26 being rotatably mounted between a supporting bracket 28 extending rearwardly from the post 16 and a similar supporting bracket extending rearwardly 3,237,682 Patented Mar. 1, 1966 "ice from the post 20. Secured to one end of the curtain shaft 26 is an actuating pulley 30 to which an endless actuating cable 32 is secured for rotation of the pulley and the curtain shaft connected thereto in order to extend or upwardly retract the curtain. The lower portion of the cable is entrained about a pulley within a pulley block 34 secured by the eye element 36 to an anchor 38 in supporting surface 14. Disposed on the outside of the pulley 30 in parallel spaced relation to the bracket 28, is an outer plate member 40, the plate member being spaced by the spacer 42 from the bracket 28 and secured therewith by a pair of bolt assemblies 44, to the upper end portion of a backing member 46.

The backing member is a vertically elongated channel secured to the post 16 by a plurality of vertically spaced bolt assemblies 48. The web portion 50 of the backing member'46 presents a backing surface against which the curtain 22 is clamped by a vertically elongated clamping member 52. With continued reference to FIGURE 3 and FIGURE 6, it will be observed that the clamping member 52 may be in the form of a right angle member in cross section having a leg portion 54 adapted to clamp the side edge portion of the curtain 22 against the backing member 46. The clamping member is guidedly mounted on the backing member by a plurality of pins 56 which extend through angle slots 58 formed in the side leg portion 60 of the clamping member. The pins 56 are therefore rigidly mounted by the backing member 46 so as to guide movement of the clamping member toward the backing member when it is displaced upwardly in one vertical direction. Accordingly, a spring element 62 is connected at one end to the upper portion of the clamping member and at its other end anchored to the bracket 28 so as to continuously bias the clamping member in an upward direction in order to clamp the curtain to the backing member.

In order to downwardly displace the clamping member 52 against the bias of the spring 62 so as to release the curtain or to permit further extension of the curtain, a handle 64 is provided as more clearly seen in FIGURE 9. The lower end of the handle is pivotally connected by the pivot 66 to the side leg portion 60 of the clamping member. The upper end portion of the handle is provided with a slot 68 which intersects one of the slots 58 formed in the side portion 60 of the clamping member through which a pin 56 extends. When the clamping member is in its clamping position shown in FIGURE 3, the slot 68 in the handle member will be aligned with the slot 58 in the clamping member with the pin 56 then being at the lower ends of the slots 58 and 68. To displace the clamping member away from the backing member and lock it in its curtain releasing position, the handle 64 may be grasped to downwardly displace the clamping member until the pin 56 is disposed at the upper ends of the aligned slots 58 and 68. In this position, the handle may be pivotally displaced so as to receive the pin 56 in the locking notch 70 communicating with the upper end of the slot 68 in the handle as shown in FIGURE 9. The clamping member will then be locked in its position spaced from the backing member against the bias of the spring 62 in order to permit the curtain to be withdrawn or extended between the clamping member and the backing member.

A clamping member and locking handle similar to that described in connection with the post 16 will also be provided for the post 20 in order to clamp the side edge portion of the curtain 22 between the posts 16 and 20. In addition thereto, the curtain may be clamped intermediate the side edge portions between a pressure bar 72 and a backing member 74 secured to the post 18. Referring therefore to FIGURES 4, 7 and 8 in particular, it will be observed that the pressure bar 72 is biased downwardly by means of a spring 76 one end of which is anchored to a bolt assembly 78 which secures the backing member to the post 18. The other end of the spring is secured to a pin 80 fixed to the upper end of the pressure bar. The pin 80 is received within an angle guide slot 82 formed in the side of the backing member 74 so as to bring the pressure bar into engagement with the curtain when the pin is at the lower end of the slot. The pressure bar will therefore be suspended by the pin 80 at its upper end above the curtain roll. Accordingly, the upper portion 84 of the pressure bar extends outwardly in surrounding relation to the curtain roll. The lower end of the pressure bar on the other hand, is received within a locking foot member 86.

The locking foot member is secured in place on the floor surface 14 by means of forwardly extending tab portion 88 received under the lower end of the backing member 74. A pin 90 is connected to the lower end portion of the pressure bar and extends through slots 92 formed within the locking foot member on opposite sides of the pressure bar. When the pressure bar is in a position clamping the curtain to the backing member, the pin 90 will be at the lower ends of the slots 92. In order to lock the. pressure bar in a position spaced from the backing member as shown in FIGURE 8, a locking notch 94 is provided in the locking member 86 communicating with the upper ends of the slots 92 so as to receive the pin 90. The pressure bar is vertically displaced to its upper position by means of a handle 96 rigidly secured thereto and is then angularly displaced about its upper suspension pin 80 so as to bring the lower pin 90 into the locking notch 94.

From the foregoing description, the construction, installation and utility of the curtain clamping structure of the present invention will be apparent. It will therefore be appreciated that the structure of the present invention may be easily mounted on the supporting posts for a roof assembly between which curtains are mounted in order to hold such curtains in a taut condition and prolong the life thereof by preventing fluttering and excessive movement because of wind. Also facilitated release and engagement of the curtains is provided.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a roof assembly supported above a floor surface by a plurality of vertical posts and a curtain roll assembly extending horizontally between at least two of the posts, means for holding a curtain taut between said posts comprising, a backing member secured to each of said posts, an elongated clamping member on at least one of said backing members, guide means slidably mounting said clamping member for displacement into engagement with the one backing member in response to vertical movement in one direction, means biasing said clamping member in said one vertical direction for clamping the curtain to said one backing member, a handle pivotally secured to said clamping member and locking means mounted on said one backing member and engageable with the handle for'locking the clamping member in a position spaced from the one backing member in response to pivotal displacement of the handle.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said locking means includes a pin fixed to the one backing member and extending through slots in the. clamping member and the handle, said slot in the handle communicating with a locking notch receiving the pin upon pivotal displacement of the handle when the clamping bar is in said position spaced from the one backing member.

3. The combination of claim 2 including a pressure bar pivotally suspended on another of said backing members, spring means biasing said pressure bar in a vertical direction opposite to said one direction for clamping the curtain to the other of said backing members, lock means secured to the floor surface by said other backing member for holding the pressure bar in a position spaced therefrom and a handle secured to the pressure bar for vertical displacement thereof against the bias of the spring means and angular displacement to release the lock means.

4. The combinationof claim 3 wherein said pressure bar includes an upper portion extending in surrounding relation to the roll assembly and a suspension pin secured to the upper portion to which the spring means is connected, said suspension pin extending through a guide slot in the other backing member.

5. In combination with a roof assembly supported above a floor surface by a plurality of vertical posts and a curtain roll assembly extending horizontally between at least two of the posts, means for holding a curtain taut be tween said posts comprising a backing member secured to each of said posts, a pressure bar pivotally suspended on at least one of said backing members, spring means biasing said pressure bar inone vertical direction for clamping a curtain tosaid one backing member, lock means secured to the floor surface by said one backing member for holding the pressure bar in a position spaced therefrom and: a handle secured to the, pressure bar for vertical displacement thereof against the bias of the spring means and angular displacement to release the lock means.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said pressure bar includes an upper portion extending in surrounding relation to the roll assembly and a suspension pin secured to the upper portion to which the spring means is connected, said suspension pin extending through a guide slot in the other backing member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A ROOF ASSEMBLY SUPPORTED ABOVE A FLOOR SURFACE BY A PLURALITY OF VERTICAL POSTS AND A CURTAIN ROLL ASSEMBLY EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY BETWEEN AT LEAST TWO OF THE POSTS, MEANS FOR HOLDING A CURTAIN TAUT BETWEEN SAID POSTS COMPRISING, A BACKING MEMBER SECURED TO EACH OF SAID POSTS, AN ELONGATED CLAMPING MEMBER ON AT LEAST ONE OF SAID BACKING MEMBERS, GUIDE MEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTING SAID CLAMPING MEMBER FOR DISPLACEMENT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ONE BACKING MEMBER IN RESPONSE TO VERTICAL MOVEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION, MEANS BIASING SAID CLAMPING MEMBER IN SAID ONE VERTICAL DIRECTION FOR CLAMPING THE CURTAIN TO SAID ONE BACKING MEMBER, A HANDLE PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID CLAMPING MEMBER AND LOCKING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID ONE BACKING MEMBER AND ENGAGE- 